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The affected passengers are being contacted by Cook Island officials.
Passengers will not be allowed on flights from New Zealand to the Cook Islands after confirmation of a Covid-19 case in Northland.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said late Tuesday that Wednesday’s scheduled flight to Rarotonga would only carry cargo, not passengers.
Saturday’s flight is unaffected depending on the results of tests over the next 48 hours, Brown said.
Brown said his cabinet was awaiting confirmation of whether any community broadcasts had occurred before making further decisions.
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David White stuff.co.nz
A one-way travel bubble has opened, with the first flight from the Cook Islands landing at Auckland International Airport.
“With the remaining test results in mind, the Cook Islands are taking New Zealand’s lead by allowing more time for more test results to come in before we can reassure the public one way or another about the scope of the spread, “Brown said. .
“To that end, while we await further results over the next 48 hours, the 30 affected passengers who intend to travel to Rarotonga tomorrow will have to postpone their flight to the next one leaving Auckland on Saturday morning.”
Affected passengers are being contacted by Cook Islands officials, who will work with them to find accommodation before booked flights.
Air New Zealand has confirmed that passenger reservations will be transferred free of charge.
Just last week, on January 15, a one-way travel bubble from the Cook Islands to New Zealand was announced with non-quarantine travel from the Pacific Island beginning on January 21.
While the signs so far looked promising, on Sunday a 56-year-old Northland woman tested positive for Covid-19 after being discharged from the Pullman Hotel.
On Monday, former Cook Islander government adviser and Wellington resident Thomas Tarurongo Wynne said New Zealand’s Cook Islanders were concerned about the effect it could have on travel.
“It would help to calm people’s minds at the very least. The anxiety level in the Cooks right now will be very high, ”Wynne said.
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Selina Vainerere-Patia said she is concerned about the effect the case could have on the travel bubble.
He said the Cook Islanders were “very concerned” about anything that could put their population at risk of introducing the virus.
“The community is very aware of the UK and South Africa strain and this positive case after quarantine, this scenario is absolutely possible for cooks.”
Aucklander Selina Vainerere-Patia, who is in the Cook Islands for her sister’s funeral, said people were concerned about the arrival of the virus on the island.
“It’s scary and causes a bit of anguish… on the other hand, I also need to go back to my other home. I’m a little anxious that if the cases increase, would the travel window that was opened be affected? “
The announcement comes just one day after Australia suspended its quarantine-free travel agreement with New Zealand for 72 hours.
Australian Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters at a press conference that Australia would immediately suspend its green zone travel agreements with New Zealand.
“This will be done with great caution while learning more about the event and the case,” Hunt said.
Stuff has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
